Don't Overlook Ethanol In Clean Car Future

As the United States looks to craft a clean fuel future for transportation, biofuels should not be lost behind electric vehicles according to Geoff Cooper of the Renewable Fuels Association.

"To say that an electric vehicle has no impact on carbon emissions is nonsense," Cooper told AgriTalk Radio Host Chip Flory at the National Ethanol Conference in San Antonio, TX. "We know if you're using a flex-fuel vehicle that's running on low-carbon E85 you're reducing emissions every bit as much as an electric vehicle would."

Cooper said ethanol and other biofuels just want a level playing field with electric vehicles that receive tax incentives and do not pay motor fuel taxes that support road infrastructure.

The industry is working with the automotive industry to take advantage of the higher octane of ethanol-blended fuels according to Cooper. That higher octane allows for higher engine compression which can boost fuel efficiency while lowering emissions.

Watch the entire interview with RFA's Geoff Cooper in the player above.